Match Report

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Melksham Town Res. 
2 - 0
 Trowbridge Town

League (Wiltshire Football League Premier Division)
Wednesday, April 17th, 2002
The Conigre
3:00 PM Kick-off

Scorers: Chris Henry, Mike Little


Trowbridge ended their brief winless streak with a solid victory over Melksham Reserves on their own patch at the Conigre. Conditions were slightly tricky under the influence of persistent drizzle, but the Bees were thankfully able to field a stronger team than in recent games, to the extent that the names Roberts, A. O'Pray and Miluk didn't appear anywhere on the team sheet! Early exchanges were tight, but Melksham had the first good chance in the 20th minute, Adam Sheppard foiling their centre forward in a one-on-one confrontation. Trowbridge's reply was swift, Gordon Saunderson breaking up an attack and firing an excellent 50 yard pass over the home defence straight into the path of the onrushing Lewis Haldane, whose 20 yard effort crashed off the bar. This signalled a period of increasing Trowbridge dominance, and they took the lead after half an hour when Melksham's keeper could only palm a long shot out to the edge of the area, a grateful Mike Little dispatching it back past him into the far corner. The lead was almost doubled soon afterwards as the lively Haldane's shot was blocked by the keeper's legs, Mark Conner putting the rebound narrowly wide.

The second half largely degenerated into a midfield slog as conditions grew stickier. Melksham had more of the play, creating some promising positions, but their forward line was unable to breach the Bees' back line of Barnes, Murden and Saunderson, who ensured that Sheppard was barely troubled. Trowbridge played mostly on the counter-attack, creating few chances of their own, although a sweeping move after 80 minutes ended with a right-wing cross from which Little's header forced an acrobatic tip-over. The clinching goal arrived soon afterwards from a corner routine, Chris Henry beating the keeper at his near post from an almost impossible angle after his original kick had been played back out to him by Tim Waylen. This victory takes the Bees a step closer to a top-four league finish, which would be secured in the event of victory at Malmesbury Reserves this Saturday.

Report by Rob Lloyd-Smith


SQUAD

Starting lineup

Adam Sheppard
Daniel Barnes
Gordon Saunderson
Lee Wilson
Mark Connor
Ben Gardner
Lewis Haldane
Chris Henry
Mike Little
Brent Murden
Tim Waylen

Subs used

Edginton
Waleed Bakali
Luke Smith